Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 (Mac)
July 2nd, 2009
I have been a Photoshop user for many years. I currently have Photoshop CS2, but it runs very slow and is not optimized for Intel Macs. I’ve also used several versions of Photoshop Elements with mixed results. You get what you pay for and the full Photoshop software gives you everything and then some.
But what if you don’t want to spend $600.00 and still want Photoshop? Photoshop Elements may suffice.
Safari 4.0.1 Feature Spotlight
July 1st, 2009
always liked Yahoo’s way of letting you e-mail the URL of web pages to other people. However, it seems now you have to login to do it, which is annoying. However, the latest version of Apple’s Safari web browser has this feature built-in.
To add this feature to your toolbar, simply right-click anywhere within the toolbar area and choose “Customize Toolbar.” Then just drag the “Mail” icon to the toolbar. That’s it.
Now when you visit a web page that you want to share with others, press the “Mail” button and your mail client will open with a new message which contains the link and the page title as the subject.
That was easy!
Sloooow Poster
June 29th, 2009
The WiFi signal I’m “borrowing” has gone silent for the last couple days. I’m getting around by using my iPhone’s Edge connection. This is dial-up speed. It’s horrible. I kinda wish I had a 3G at the moment…
I may have to spring for internet access when I get back home.
Tragicland
June 27th, 2009
I will preface this article by saying I’m not a Michael Jackson fan, just a very casual listener to a select few of his songs. Like many kids growing up during the 1980s, I was subjected to his music and influence on popular culture. Although not an avid MTV viewer (1993 not withstanding), I did manage to see all his videos at one time or another– at least the classic ones. And although his music is not something I “got into,” I did a lot of singing around the house of some of his hits, including Beat It, Thriller, and Billie Jean.
This article is really just about my feelings and recollections of what I thought of Michael Jackson and what I have to say about this life and death. I did purchase the three aforementioned songs on iTunes in preparation for this article. I imagine with Jackson not around anymore to spend his own money, his debts may get paid off sooner than most people think. As of now, his personal debt has been estimated to be as much as $400 million or more. After that, I’m sure the family, record labels, lawyers, and a slew of others will be in court fighting over rights to his name, likeness, and music. Vultures.
eBay Sell-Off 2009
June 24th, 2009
I’ve been selling some stuff on eBay, most notably my old 17″ MacBook Pro. I needed a new computer but I didn’t want to pay anything out of pocket. Pre-tax, my new MacBook Pro 15″ cost $1,699.00. I was hoping the stuff I sold on eBay would at least amount to that price. With two auctions left, I’m just $47.00 short of my goal. With any luck, I’ll end up a bit over $1,700.00 in sales. That means I really only had to pay the 7% Rhode Island sales tax for my new Mac. Not bad.
I’m again under warranty, and I’ll get the AppleCare plan at the end of the year, giving me an additional two years of coverage.
Update (06.25.09): This MacBook Pro will be traveling to Afghanistan. A serviceman purchased it and is taking it with him when he is deployed next week. Let’s hope it tracks Bin Laden and “fires” the drone that takes the bastard out.
Update (06.25.09): The final sales figure was $1,676.08. Just shy of my $1,699.00 goal. But I’ll take it.
Update (06.24.09): With one last item selling, total sales are up to $1,673.02.
Follow Me @ Twitter
June 18th, 2009
You can now follow the Scripted Lizard on twitter. When I add new posts, you can be instantly alerted. View my twitter page to follow me.
MacBook Pro Is A Go
June 18th, 2009
I’ve had my MacBook Pro 17-inch for a bit over two years now. It is a great computer and still works fine. Aside from the letters “a” and “c” falling off from the bezel, turning the computer into a “M– Book Pro,” a couple of the cushion pads on the bottom falling off, a ding on the back side, some light scratching and a dead pixel, the computer works just like it did on day one. Well almost, the fans tend to run more often now.
However, I never purchased Apple Care protection, so basically it’s living on borrowed time. One catastrophe, such as the logic board going, and I’m out a computer. So I’ve been recently thinking about replacing it with another MacBook Pro. And I’m happy to say that I finally did. I purchased the computer yesterday at the Providence Place Apple retail store, in Providence, Rhode Island.
Congrats Lakers!
June 14th, 2009
The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Orlando Magic 99 to 86, winning the NBA Finals four games to one. It is the Lakers 15th title overall, Phil Jackson’s 10th, and Kobe’s 4th. Kobe is still the best player in the NBA, hands down. I look for the Lakers to go back-to-back, and fight for a three-peat.
I had the great privilege of seeing Kobe perform in Boston about seven years ago, and he’s matured into one of the greatest players to ever take the court. I’m a big MJ fan, but Kobe has carried the torch with excellence since Jordan retired.
Up And Away
June 7th, 2009
I had the great pleasure of seeing Up in the theatre tonight. Well before the feature flickered it’s first scenes of animated brilliance, the audience of roughly 5 people, including me (hey, it was a late showing), were presented with a Pixar short film titled, “Partly Cloudy.” It set the tone for the rest of the night.
In “Partly Cloudy,” we see the process of how babies are born… just not the way you might imagine. We are talking storks and such. The process starts with the clouds, which create babies of all species, essentially from themselves, with cloud material. The storks then take the bundles down to their rightful recipients. The short has no dialog, just grunting, meowing, snorting, and a bunch of other cool noises.
The story focuses on one storm cloud, not bright white like the others. He seems to be sort of an outcast. Rather than make nice cuddly puppies, he’s making electric eels, crocodiles, and sharks. The poor stork who has to carry his creations to their eventual homes takes some exception to the lot. Eventually, the stork leaves him for another cloud, at which point the cloud gets angry and shows his anger with lighting and thunder. He then gets sad, and the cloud starts raining. It was all for not, as the stork simply went to another cloud to get a football helmut and some padding. The dark cloud gets happy again, and continues on with his purpose.
CapitalDeceit Bank
May 26th, 2009
So I got a credit card application earlier this month. I looked it over just as I would any other offer. It looked good, so I decided to apply online. The offer already said I was pre-approved, and all I had to do was verify my information. That’s pretty easy. And since it was CapitalOne, I didn’t think twice.
I went through the the online process, very simple and easy. After three screens, I was done. My new card was on it’s way. Then something hit me. Were my eyes deceiving me? I just applied for a CapitalOne credit card right? Wait a minute, no! This is another credit card company trying to spoof CapitalOne’s identity. And it worked!
